Combined draft arm and center sill reenforcement



March 23 1926. 1,577,961

J. P. GALLAGHER COMBINED DRAFT ARM AND CENTER SILL REENFORCEMENT Filled 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i in a 7 I .-1 m

INVEIITOI?- John P M 44 4 March 23 192.6. 1,577,961

J. P. GALLAGHER COMBINED DRAFT ARM AND CENTER SILL REENFORQEMENT Filed Oct. 18, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 23, 1926.

barren STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN P. GALLAGHER, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 MAGOR CAR COR- PORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

COMBINED DRAFT ARM AND CENTER SILL REENFORCEMENT.

Application filed October 18, 1922, ScriaI No. 595,461.

To aZZ 10720722- it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN P. GALLAGHER, a cit" n the United States, and resident of Jere City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jerseyghave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Draft Arm and Center Sill Reenforcements, of which the following is a specification. I

The invention relates in general to an improved form of car center sill construction for use in connection with freight, passenger and other forms of cars, and the inven tion specifically relates to a metallic ree11- forcement for the center sills and related structural elements found on certain makes of freight cars now in general use and which have their center sills formed wholly or in part of wood.

The designers of wooden fright cars did not provide a sufficiently rigid structure to withstand the la ding strains and the pulling and buffing shocks to which the underframes of modern steel cars are subjected at present. littempts have been made heretofore to reonforce the old wooden car underframe construction so as to meet presentservice conditi. usually by providing complicated and tlrequently unnecessarily massive fabricated structures formed from commercial shapes and crudely assembled with the result that the added material has not been advantageously utilized. This practice has added unnecessarily to the cost and in gen- .rz i has resulted in a rather make-shift construction which is neither neat in appear aucc nor economical in labor and material costs.

in this application, the invention has for certain objects the providing of a simplified form of rceuforcement for wooden car undesframcs which will feature a minimizing in the amount of material used as well as the cost necessary to fabricate the reenforc inn "LiilCtUl'C, which will provide for the uecesary adjustment to lit underfraine con} structions in which the elements are differently spaced; which will eliminate parts heretofore regarded as necessary in such constructions; which will reduce the amount of labor necessary to mount the reenforcement in position in the underframe and at the same time which will provide a type of reenforcement adequate to the requirements in such circumstances. 7 p p Incidental to the general object. to provide for the minimizing of separated parts the disclosure has for an additional object the providing of aform of center sill reenforcement which includes as a part thereof certain extensions overlapping the car bolsters and designed to function as gusset plates and as diagonal strain braces. In the illustrated showingthese extensions are integral with the sill reenforcements. In this Way there is eliminated the necessity for using separate gussetplates, and incidentally there is eliminated the labor necessary to the installation of separate gusset plates.

lVhere attempts have been made in the prior art to reenforce the parts of the center sills between each end sills and the adjacent bolster, it has been usual to locate the reenforcement in the longitudinal center of the car and Within the outlines of the center sills. The result of this construction when the car is in service is that shocks on the end sills'are transferred to the central portion of the bolster with a resulting tendency of the bolsters to buckle at the center. The old construction also tends to localize shocks to theupper zone of the bolster, resulting in a tendency of the bolster to tip or cant, so that it not infrequently vhappens that the bolster is torn away from the other parts of the underframe construction.

rhcordingly, another object of the invention is to provide, in connection with the center sill reenforceiuent feature, strain transmitting elements which will function as strain braces to distribute the centrally directed shocks on the end sills rearwardly and outwardly to the outside of the center sill construction and along amaterial length of the bolster. The invention further featurcs an end construction which will distribute shocks towards the intermediate or side sills usual in wooden car underframe constructions and in this way utilize the intermediate sills as well. as the side sills to distribute and absorb part of the butting shocks.

It is suggested in the present disclosure that the center sill reenforcement be in one piece and continuous from end to end of the car. It is apparent however that the parts at each end of the car, and which constitute combined center sill reenforcements, draft arms diagonal braces and gusset plate, will be relatively massive and of a size not conveniently handled by the usual forms of Stamping or pressing machines.

Accordingly the invention herein disclosed features a three para of unit reenforcen'ient which will con'iprise the combined units at each end the car and which preferably will have a length to extend from the end sills past the adjacent bolsters, and a third unit of a length sufficient to connect the end units. This three unit construction has the advantage that standard pa be readily cut to size to fit car UDClGI'lltl'lllQS of varying lengths. This midsection may be omitted but is suggested. for use both as a reenforcement connecting element as a center sill reenforceinent in those situations where it is deemed advisable to reenforce the center sills at their inidlengths.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and in partwill be more fully set forth in the following particular description of one form of mechanism embodying my in v'ention and the invention also consists in certain new and novel features of construc tion and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a plan view adjacentone end of a wooden car underframe equipped with a preferred embodiment of the invention and with parts broken away to show details of construction.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the ends units forming part of the complete reenforcement partially shown in plan in Fig. 1.

Figure- 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken in the longitudinal medial plane of the car, on the line 33 of Figure 1 and lookg in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

Figure f is a transverse sectional view adjacent the bolster taken on the line 4;-t of F igure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

In the following description and in the claims, parts will be identified by specilic names for convenience of expression but they are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit.

In the carvings there is shown a wooden underframe formed of longitudinally extending members con'iprising a pair of transversely spaced apart wooden'center sills 1G and 11, side sills 12 and 13; and intermediate sills 14 and 15; and transversely er:- tending members includin one of the end sills 16 and the adjacent bolster 1?.- It is understood that the structure shown in Figure 1 is duplicated at the opposite end of the car, There is also dij o'sed in outline certend from thebolster to the front of the guard plate as is; usual in such constructions.

It is iniderstood that this showing is intended to representconventional structures and to disclose a type of wooden underfraine much is to be reenforced by the metallic construction particularly forming the subject-matter of this application.

ln'the form herein illustrated the center sill reenforcement comprises three major and twominor units formed of metal plate pressings. Of the major pressings there is intended, to be; used two end members each extending fronione of the'cnd sills pastthe adjacent bolster and :1 connecting member disposed between the end members and fastened, at each end to the end members by means of tie plates which con stitute the two minor units and are preferably pressings. I

Referring to either of the end members, 21 in Fig. 2, there is illustrated a single metal plate pressing having a length sui'lieient to extend from the end sill to the bolster and preferably across the bolster for a distance equal to or less than the distance from the bolster to the end sill. In the preferred form shown in Figure 1 the pressing is of a length to extend towards the center of the car from the bolster a distance a}- proximately more than onehalf of the distance between end sill and bolster. The central portion of the pressing is bent longitu dinally into a channel 22, inverted U-shaped in cross-section and of a size to fit between the inner faces of the center sillsv and acting to form a thrust beam at the adjacent end of the car underframe This beam includes a pair of vertically disposed webs 2 f a top flange 25 and outstanding bottom flanges 26 which project integrally from the lower edges of each of the webs 24 and coact therewith to provide right angle seats for the wooden center sills l0 and 11. It is within the scope of the present disclosure to form this partof the beam of Z-shaped pressings with lapped flanges riveted together.

In the present instance the flanges 26 are extended on each side beyond the outer faces of the adjacent center sills to provide horizontally disposed plates 2?. Each plate is of maximum width along the bolster, and 'in' the fornrof the invention disclosed in liigure 1 extends to the adjacent intermediate sill 1490i 15. The plate is of gradually reduced width in both nirections from the bolster and forms between the bolster and the adjacent end sill a triangular shaped plate 28 which coacts with the adjacent upstanding web 24: to form an angle pressing (ill which in addition to providing a seat for the wooden sill will function as a diagonal strain transnntting brace to distribute shocks received at the center of the end sill and to convey the same to the portions ot the bolster to the outside of the center the construction as thus far described will The central unit 30 connecting the end' pressings 21 resembles the end pressings in outline and dimension, except that it is not provided with the gusset plate forming entensions 27. This part of the construction is simply a. one-piece channel shaped member, preferably a pressing, inverted U shaped in cross-section and provided with outstanding flanges 31. However, this part may obviously be torn ed of two Z members riveted together as is shown in the companion application above identified. The ends of the central pressing are secured to the adjacentend pressingsiby means of tie plates 32 which extend across the joints between the units and are fastened by rivets 33. In the present disclosure this tie plate corresponds in cross section to the central member, except that it is of correspondingly smaller size so as to fit in the trough or' channels of the members to which they are attached.

Where the question of economy in reenter-cements is vital the central pressing may he reduced in the amount of material used; may have some of its parts omitted; or may be omitted entirely. In this latter case depcndence is placed upon the unreenforced wooden center sills to provide the necessary structure parts at the center of the undertrame.

The parts of the reenforcement are secured to the center sills by vertically disposed bolts Sat and horizontally disposed bolts 35 as more particularly suggested in the cop'ending application. The end pressings may be secured to the end sills and in order to 'g'zrovide a broad bearing attachment the end or" the top flange 25 is down rivet the parts together.

tur ed to provide a depending transversely ez'itending attaching web This web abuts the inner side 01"? the end sill between the center sills and is secured in place by bolts 37 which pass therethrough and through the buffer block 18.

In operation it will be understood that there will be lrept in stock a supply of the end and central units which will be standard for all car constructions of one type. In such cars the distances between end sills will frequently vary but this variation may be conipensated for by cutting the central member to proper length. The tie plates are riveted in place and the complete reentorcing structure thus fabricated is disposed in position in the car nnderframe.

Bymeans of the device herein disclosed it is possible to distribute sho cl received on either end sill constructions throughout the major portion otthe car under-frame and in this way strengthen the construction awhole in such manner that the reenforced car (an be. distributed in a train together i with modern all-steel cars.

It is a feature oi this construction that the usual multiplicity of parts have been reduced to the smallest possible number and there is eliminated the weakening etlect pt the usual multiplicity of bolt holes as Well as the elimination of the labor necessary to There is further etlected a saving of material and in general there is provided a lighter, neater and less cumbersome structureithan has heretofore been regarded as necessary to effect the re entorceinents oi wooden car underframes.

While I have shown and described, and have pointed out in the annexed claims, certain novel features of my invention it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit ot the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a car undertranie, the combination with an end sill, a bolster and a pair of center sills to be reenforced. of a pressing extending from the end sill past the bolster, a part of said pressing titted between the center sills to form a thrust beam reeniorcing the same, said pressing including on each side outwardly extending flanges integral with the beam and overlapping the bolster, the parts of said flange between the bolster and center sills constituting gusset platesv and the parts of the pressing between the end sill and bolster constituting diagonal strain braces.

2. In a car undertra'me, the combination with a wooden frame including longitudinal renter, intermediate and a side sills and a transverse end sill and bolster, of a single al plate structural unit extending lon- 1' tron'i the end sill across the bol- (liittllitllllg transversely at the bolster from one intermediate sill to the other, converging in horizontal width from the bolster towa s the end sill and extending at the end sirfrom the outer side of one center sill to the outer side or the other center sill, said unit including a channel shape central part titted between the center sills to reenlorce the same, and. longitudinal. edge porlions er-ltending' intcp ai from said central port on for transferring strains outwardly from toe cud sills to the portion of the bolster on opposite sides of the center sills.

:1. In a car underiranie, the combination wooden tr ne including longitudinal in er. fate and side sills and a no end sill and bolster, ot a single metal plate structural unit extending lonpitudir from the end sill across the b ster, e: ending transverse at the bolster train oneintermediate sill to the other, converging in horizontal width from the bolster terraros the end sill er 1 mending at the end sill tron-1 the outer .rle of one center sill to the outer side out the other center sill and means for securing: said single unit to tlie bolster and center sills.

4. In a car undertrame construction, the

combination with a bolster and one end sill,-

ot a structural unit extending from the end sill pastthe bolster, overlapping and supported by the bolster, said unit including a vertically disposed web and a horizontal web integral with each other, the parts thereot between the end sill and the bolster constituting strain distributing braces and the parts overlapping the bolster constituting gusset plates.

5. in a car underframe construction, the combination of an end sill, bolster and a pair of center sills to be reentorced, of a reentorcinp; unit shaped to provide center sill reeirtorcinn' elements extending across the bolster and titted between the center sills and to provide strain distributing braces between the end sill and bolster.

(i. In a air under-frame construction, the combination of a bolster and apair of center sills to be reen forced, of a reenforcing' unit shaped to provide center sill reentorcing elements a spacing element. extending be tween the sills and to provide gusset plates between the holster and center sills on opposite sides of the center sills and on opposite sides of the bolster.

7. In a car under-frame construction, the combination with a bolster and a pair of center sills to be reent'orced, oi a reentorcing unit includ ng, on opposite sides of the medial longitudinal vertical plane of the car, an angle shape for reentorcing the adjacent center sill, and a part of said shape fitted to extend horizontally between the sills and other parts extending from the sill reentorcing part in overlapped relation to the bolster to form a gusset plate extending longitucinally on opposite sides of the bolster.

8. In a car undcrtraine construction, the combination with an end sill, a bolster and center sills to be reentorced along their entire length between the end sill and the bolster, of a sill reentorcing member, e3:- tending along each sill from the end sill to the bolster, said member in luding a channel shaped part disposed between and reentorcing the center sills, flanges extending outwardly therefrom on opposite sides of the sills, the parts of said flanges between the end sill and bolster constituting strain distributing braces.

9. in a car undertranie construction, the combination with a center sill to be reentorced and a bolster, or an angle shape ineluding an upstanding element and a horizontal element integral therewith, means for securing both elements to the center sill to reentoree the same and toe horizontal element extending beyond the center sill'and in overlapped relation to the bolster to form gusset plate integral with the center sill reentorcing part.

10, In a center sill construction, the combination ol a pair of parallel wooden center sills, a metallic reentorceinent therefore comprising a metal pressing shaped to provide an inverted U-shape beam disposed between the ccnter sills and flanges converging in width from adjacent their centers towards opposite ends exteding integrally from the U-shaped portion and underlap,

ping the wooden sills.

11. A structural unit for car undertranies comprising a central, inverted tl-shaped center sill reenl'orcing' part adapted to fit between the center sills to be reeniorced and horizontally erd'endingflanges projecting laterally from opposite sides of said central part, said flanges adapted to be secured to center sills and constituting combined diagonal strain braces and gusset plates for distributing balling shocks along the car bolster to the outside of the center sills and for tying the bolster to the center sills in spaced relation to their adjacent ends. 7

12. A metal PZQQSlDQ' tor car unilertranies includin; a trough shaped central beam having vertical and horizontal webs, said horizontal webs having lateral extensions with a. maximum width adjacent their mid-length and converging in width towards opposite ends.

12}. A metal pressing for car under-frames including a channel shaped central bean'i having a pair of vertical, transversely spaced webs and gusset plate forming flanges outstanding horizontally from opposite sides of the. beam, and extending longitudinally across and projecting beyond opposite sides or the car bolster, andsaid gusset plate provided with bolt holes for receiving fastening means to secure the same to the car bolster.

i l. A structural unit for car underframes comprising a metal pressing having a length sufficient to extend from a car end to the adjacent bolster, said pressing fashioned to provide a center sill reenforcing shape for reent'orcing the portion of the center sill between the car end and the adjacent bolster and including outstanding flanges on opposite sides thereof, each flange converging in width towards opposite ends and constituting braces on opposite sides of the bolster for transferring strains from the adjacent our end to the bolster and also to the'bolster from the central portion of the center sill on the side oi the bolster opposite the adjacent car end.

15. A structural unit for car under-frames comprising a metal pressing fashioned to with a reentorcement and pr vided with bolt holes adjacent the center for securing the same to a bolster.-

16. A structural unit for car underframes comprising a metal pressing including an angle shape constituting a brace arm adapted to transfer strains from the car end to the adjacent bolster and one flange of said angle extended to provide a gusset plat-e'adapted to be secured to the car bolster and to extend lengthwise of the bolster on opposite sides of the bolster.

17. A reenforcement for wooden center sill constructions including a pressing of a uniform thickness, having a central part inverted U-shape in cross-section and having outstanding flanges projecting integrally from the lower edges of the U-shaped central part said flanges having a maximum width adjacent their mid-lengths and tapering therefrom towards opposite ends.

18. In a car underframe, the combination with an end sill a bolster and a pair of center sills extending from the end sill past the bolster, of a metal pressing having a part fashioned to fit between the center SlllS to reeniorce the same on opposite sides of the thugs to an end sill wh within the longitudinally projected outlines of the tl-shaped part for securing the pressing to the car end sill whereby the top of the metal pressrn' w ll be flat and tree of pro- A): I ections and may be SQCL red by means oi ltS Lil does not pro ect 1 i above the side sills.

20. In a car underlrame, the combination with a pair of wooden center sills to be reeniorced, end sills and bolster, of a fabrr cated metallic reeniorcement including similar end units, each constituting a combined brace, center sill recni'orcement and gusset plate structure, a central unit constituting a center sill reenforcemcnt and cut to size to extend between the units and means for securing the central unit to the end units.

A car under-frame reentorcement formed of three major units comprising two similar end units, each constituting a combined brace, gusset plate and center sill reenforcement for the part of the center sills adjacent the contiguous bolster and a connecting central unit of less material than the end parts and constituting a reenforcement for the central part of the center sills.

A car un'lerframe reenforcement including three major units disposed in align ment, each. constituting a metal pressing inverted U-sha-pe in cross-section and adapted collectively to form a center sill reenforcement, two of said units at opposite ends of the reenforcement being similar in shape and each provided with outstanding flanges constituting combined strain transmitting braces and gusset plates and the third unit extending betweenthe end units.

23. In a car undert'rame, the combination with structural parts to be reentorced, of a reenforcing structure comprising five-parts fabricated to form a metallic structure extending from end to end of the car, said parts comprising two similar pressings, one at each end of the car, a central pressing disposed between the end pressings and two similar pressings for connecting opposite ends of the central pressing with the adjacent end pressing, said pressings coacting to provide a thrust beam from end to end 01'? the car, and said end pressings each providing dr it arms between the adjacent car end and its contiguous bolster and each providing gusset plates for connection with the adjacent bolster.

2a. In a car underiraine, the combination with a pair of wooden center sills to be reenforced, end sills and bolsters, of a iabii cated metallic reentorcement including similar end units each constituting a combined brace, center sill reenforc-ement and gusset at each end of the central unit Tor securing the end units to the central unit.

25. A car nndertrmne reen'forcelnent including three major units disposed in alignment, each constituting a metal pressing in- YQItOCl U-shape in cross-section and adapted collectively to form a center sill reent'orcelnent, two of said units at opposite ends of the roenit'orcement being similar in shape and each provided with outstanding flanges constituting combined braces and gusset plates and the third unit extending between the end unlts, and a tle plate lnverted U- shape 1n cross-sectlon extenchng across the joint between one end of the third unit and the adjacent end unit and fitted in the troughs of said units. 7

Signed at New York city in the county of New York and State of New York this 16th day of October, A. D. 1922.

J OHN P. GALLAGHER. 

